Oxfam and climate change
Lost in a swamp of questions about climate change? We've put together some questions and answers to help explain why it's an issue Oxfam is working on.
Why is Oxfam campaigning on climate change?
At Oxfam, we are passionate about ending poverty - yet our work is being increasingly undermined by changes in the world's climate.
For poor people, who are dependent on predictable weather patterns, the damage brought about to land and crops - whether by increased flooding, droughts, or rising sea level rises - can mean no food, no earnings, and no way to secure a better future.
Why should the UK and other rich countries act first, when others countries, such as China or India, are increasing their emissions?
Rich countries are most responsible for climate change and best placed to lead the way in tackling climate change. Rich countries have a much greater capacity to respond: In China 16 per cent of the population live below the new international poverty threshold of $1.25 per day and 35 per cent live on less than $2.50 per day.
Over the last century the 23 richest countries (14 per cent of the current global population) have been responsible for 60 per cent of accumulated CO2 emissions. China (20 per cent of the current global population) has been responsible for just 8 per cent.
The rest of the world is looking to countries like the UK to show international leadership, but building new unabated coal-fired power stations would send a clear signal that the UK isn't serious about switching from fossil fuels to clean technologies.
It is also misleading to talk about China – or India's – emissions without considering the population. The average American emits 20.5 tons of CO2 annually – equivalent to 5 Chinese. The average per capita CO2 emissions for the UK is 9.9 tons – equivalent to 2.5 Chinese.
Why joined-up UK policies are essential to tackle climate change
How will we fill the 'energy gap' without opening new coal power stations?
Research shows that if we were to meet the government's targets, renewable energy and increased energy efficiency would bridge the gap. And some energy companies, like Centrica, have already ruled out new coal.
The energy gap should be seen as an opportunity to right our energy supply so that we can tackle climate change and begin to stem its devastating impact on poor people.
Will the cost of renewable energy be paid for by householders who are already finding it hard to make ends meet?
Policies to tackle climate change must be carefully designed so that they do NOT have a negative impact on people living in poverty in the UK – and ideally benefit people on low-incomes.
The best way to help keep bills down is to insulate homes and make them more efficient; changes to the fuel mix will have little impact on prices. In the longer term, as the carbon price rises – and if carbon permits are introduced to cut emissions - coal will be an expensive liability, while the cost of renewables will fall.
Is nuclear power the solution to climate change?
Oxfam is not qualified to assess or evaluate which specific energy technologies and solution are best for each society. In general, we believe energy solutions must:
1. Be consistent with an urgent and radical shift to a low carbon future consistent with what action on climate change requires;
2. Contribute to delivering modern energy services to the billions of people around the world who do not currently have access to them; and,
3. Be cost effective under conditions that ensure the above.
By any measure, nuclear power is not one of these. The most important consideration is that nuclear energy generation cannot currently be installed fast enough over the next 10-15 years, when low carbon alternatives are required. Quite apart from the problems of nuclear waste and security risks, nuclear energy is also a very expensive form of energy that is not without its own carbon footprint.
How will my individual actions make difference things?
We're all in this together. And it's only by working together, taking personal actions and making sure those in power know about it, that we can make change happen.
Small lifestyle changes, like avoiding plastic bags and using energy saving lightbulbs or not leaving appliances on stand by are all positive steps. But there are other changes that could be made which will make a far greater difference, including insulating homes, driving less, switching to a green energy supplier and limiting or stopping flying.
Do Fairtrade products contribute to emissions because they come from developing countries?
Only a tiny proportion of Fairtrade goods are transported by air- The vast majority are shipped, which has a much lower carbon footprint. Fairtrade also promotes sustainable agricultural practices and encourages farmers to invest in environmental protection programmes too.
Given that Fairtrade products make such an overwhelmingly positive contribution to poor producers' livelihoods and make a negligible contribution to climate change, Oxfam does not believe that the poorest and least responsible people should pay first for the need to lower global CO2 emissions.
The first things we can do are to make the necessary changes to what we do in our homes, how we travel, and how we make governments more responsible in tackling the problem.
Take action
International agreement is needed to cut emissions and help poor people adapt to the effects of climate change.
From the field
Personal testimonies of how climate change is deepening poverty
